De Blasio Denies Illegally Crossing the Border

Mayor Bill de Blasio is fighting back, after allegations that he broke the law by illegally crossing the Mexican border last month.

“At no point did we disregard any instructions from federal authorities, period,” de Blasio said.

The mayor was in Texas last month during a national outcry over children being separated from their parents at the border. De Blasio said they weren’t allowed to see the kids, but were given permission to get a view of the tent city.

“The border agents consulted with their supervisor and they agreed, and they let our cars cross the American border into Mexico at a normal checkpoint. While we were there, we were told where the border line was, and we respected it,” de Blasio said.

The mayor said it wasn’t until weeks later that a letter showed up from the federal government, accusing him of illegally crossing the border.

“You can tell when our federal government is doing something that's hurting people, they don't want that to be the focus of attention. So now, trying to get the attention off of a policy literally called family separation, they're trying once again to distract. They have separated these families and they have no real plan to reunite them,” de Blasio said.

The mayor promised to continue fighting the immigration policy, saying he won’t tolerate a system that separates children from their parents.

“I won't stand for this policy, and I won't be silent, and I won't accept any effort to intimidate. I will not sit idly by as the President rips children from their families,” de Blasio said.